Partition panel for vehicles and method of manufacturing the same

ABSTRACT

Disclosed are a partition panel for vehicles and a method of manufacturing the same. The partition panel for vehicles includes a panel part formed of a composite material to divide a trunk and the inside of a vehicle from each other and a reinforcement part formed of a composite material, inclined upwards from the center of the lower portion of the panel part to both ends of the panel part, and connected integrally to the panel part.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the priority benefit of Korean PatentApplication No. 10-2016-0137799, filed on Oct. 21, 2016, in the KoreanIntellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporatedherein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a partition panel for vehicles.

BACKGROUND

In a conventional partition panel for vehicles, a portion of apanel-type main body formed of a metal, which requires reinforcement, ispartially reinforced. As circumstances require, a reinforcement bodyformed of a composite material including reinforced fibers and a resinis attached to the panel-type main body or is molded integrally with themain body.

However, the main body formed of a metal is used and, thus, it isdifficult to achieve vehicle frame weight reduction due to increase inweight and, if a reinforcement body formed of a composite material isconnected to the main body, defoliation caused by impact due tocombination between different kinds of materials, etc. occurs.

The above description has been provided to aid in understanding of thebackground of the present invention and should not be interpreted asconventional technology known to those skilled in the art.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of the present invention relates to a partition panel forvehicles in which a reinforcement part formed of a composite material isconnected integrally to a panel part formed of a composite material soas to effectively reinforce a position requiring strength and rigidity.

Embodiments of the present invention provide a partition panel forvehicles in which a reinforcement part formed of a composite material isconnected integrally to a panel part formed of a composite material soas to effectively reinforce a position requiring strength and rigidity.

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, partition panelfor vehicles can include a panel part formed of a composite material todivide a trunk and the inside of a vehicle from each other, and areinforcement part formed of a composite material, inclined upwards fromthe center of the lower portion of the panel part to both ends of thepanel part, and connected integrally to the panel part.

The reinforcement part may include a main body region connected to thecenter of the lower portion of the panel part and a pair of deploymentregions extending from the main body region so as to be inclined upwardsto both ends of the panel part, and connection parts between thedeployment regions and both ends of the main body region may beconfigured such that the width of the connection parts is graduallydecreased in the downward direction and is then increased.

The panel part and the reinforcement part may be configured such that aplurality of reinforced fiber layers having a designated arrangementdirection is stacked to form a multilayer structure, and the reinforcedfiber arrangement directions of the reinforced fiber layers of the panelpart and the reinforced fiber arrangement directions of the reinforcedfiber layers of the reinforcement part may be different by an angle of40-50°.

The reinforcement part may include a first reinforcement tape connectedto a portion of the panel part inclined upwards from the center of thelower portion of the panel part to one end of the panel part, and asecond reinforcement tape overlapping the first reinforcement tape atthe center of the lower portion of the panel part and connected to aportion of the panel part inclined upwards from the center of the lowerportion of the panel part to the other end of the panel part.

The first reinforcement tape and the second reinforcement tape may havethe same shape, and an adhesive surface of the first reinforcement tapecontacting the panel part and an adhesive surface of the secondreinforcement tape contacting the panel part may be opposite.

The first reinforcement tape and the second reinforcement tape may beconfigured such that a plurality of reinforced fiber layers having adesignated arrangement direction is stacked to form a multilayerstructure.

The reinforced fiber arrangement direction of the reinforced fiber layerof the first reinforcement tape contacting the panel part from a virtualline being parallel with the height direction of the panel part may beparallel with or vertical to the reinforced fiber arrangement directionof the reinforced fiber layer of the second reinforcement tapecontacting the panel part from the virtual line.

A pair of the reinforced fiber layers contacting each other and havingthe same reinforced fiber arrangement direction may serve as a referencepair and be disposed at the central layer of the first reinforcementtape or the second reinforcement tape, the reinforced fiber layersstacked on the upper and lower surfaces of the reference pair may form aplurality of pairs, and the pairs of the reinforced fiber layers stackedon the upper and lower surfaces of the reference pair may form amultilayer structure.

The reinforced fiber arrangement directions of the reinforced fiberlayers in odd-numbered pairs stacked on the upper and lower surfaces ofthe reference pair may be equal so as to be vertical to the reinforcedfiber arrangement direction of the reference pair, and the reinforcedfiber arrangement directions of the reinforced fiber layers ineven-numbered pairs stacked on the upper and lower surfaces of thereference pair may be equal so as to be parallel with the reinforcedfiber arrangement direction of the reference pair.

The first reinforcement tape and the second reinforcement tape may beconnected so as to intersect each other, the intersecting portionsthereof may overlap each other, one end of each of the firstreinforcement tape and the second reinforcement tape about theoverlapping portions may be connected to the upper portion of the panelpart, and the other end of each of the first reinforcement tape and thesecond reinforcement tape may be connected to the lower portion of thepanel part.

The composite materials forming the panel part and the reinforcementpart may include carbon fibers and, thus, the panel part may be formedof carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP).

The composite materials forming the panel part and the reinforcementpart may include glass fibers and, thus, the panel part may be formed ofglass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP).

The composite material forming the panel part may include carbon fibersand, thus, the panel part may be formed of carbon fiber reinforcedplastic (CFRP), and the composite material forming the reinforcementpart may include glass fibers and, thus, the reinforcement part may beformed of glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP).

The composite material forming the panel part may include glass fibersand, thus, the panel part may be formed of glass fiber reinforcedplastic (GFRP), and the composite material forming the reinforcementpart may include carbon fibers and, thus, the reinforcement part may beformed of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP).

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a method of manufacturing a partition panel for vehiclesincluding mounting first prepreg formed to have a shape corresponding toa molding groove on a lower die provided with the molding grooveinclined upwards from the center of the lower portion thereof to bothends thereof and mounting second prepreg having a sheet type on thelower die so as to cover the first prepreg, and integrally molding thefirst prepreg and the second prepreg by placing an upper die on thelower die.

The first prepreg may include a first tape mounted at one portion of themolding groove inclined upwards from the center of the lower portionthereof to one end thereof and a second tape mounted at the otherportion of the molding groove inclined upwards from the center of thelower portion thereof to the other end thereof, and, in mounting of thefirst prepreg and the second prepreg on the lower die, the first tapemay be mounted in the mounting groove and then the second tape may bemounted in the mounting groove so as to intersect the first tape at thecenter of the lower portion of the molding groove.

The first tape and the second tape may have the same shape, the moldinggroove may be bilaterally symmetrical, and, in mounting of the firstprepreg and the second prepreg on the lower die, a designated surface ofthe second tape corresponding to a designated surface of the first tapecontacting the lower die may face the upper mold.

The method may further include, after integrally molding of the firstprepreg and the second prepreg, ejecting the integrally molded firstprepreg and second prepreg from the upper and lower dies and thentrimming unnecessary portions of the first prepreg and the secondprepreg.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and other advantages of thepresent invention will be more clearly understood from the followingdetailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a partition panel for vehicles in accordancewith one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the partition panel for vehicles inaccordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a view illustrating a portion of the partition panel forvehicles requiring reinforcement of strength and rigidity;

FIG. 4 is a view illustrating a reinforcement part in accordance withone embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a view illustrating first and second reinforcement tapeshaving the same shape, acquired from rectangular prepreg;

FIG. 6 is a view illustrating first prepreg and second prepregsequentially mounted on a lower die;

FIG. 7 is a view illustrating a first tape and a second tapesequentially mounted on the lower die; and

FIG. 8 is a view illustrating unnecessary portions of the integrallymolded first prepreg and second prepreg, after molding.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Reference will now be made in detail to the preferred embodiments of thepresent invention, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be usedthroughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts.

With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a partition panel for vehicles inaccordance with the present invention includes a panel part 100 formedof a composite material to divide a trunk and the inside of a vehiclefrom each other, and a reinforcement part 200 formed of a compositematerial, having a shape inclined upwards from the center of the lowerportion of the panel part 100 to both ends of the panel part 100, andconnected integrally to the panel part 100.

The panel part 100 is disposed at the side of a back seat of the vehicleand may execute a function of dividing the trunk and the interior of thevehicle from each other. The panel part 100 is formed of a compositematerial including reinforced fibers and a resin. Here, the reinforcedfibers may mean at least one kind of fibers selected from carbon fibers,glass fibers, aramid fibers and natural fibers. Further, the resin maybe a thermosetting resin, such as polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene(PE), or a thermoplastic resin, such as polyurethane (PU). However, thedisclosure is not limited thereto.

A through hole 110 is formed through the central portion of the panelpart 100 and, thus, ski equipment, etc. loaded in the trunk may beaccommodated within the interior of the vehicle through the through hole110.

The reinforcement part 200 serves to reinforce the panel part 100 andmay be connected to at least one of both surfaces of the panel part 100.FIG. 3 illustrates a portion of a partition panel generally applied tovehicles, requiring reinforcement of strength and rigidity. Therefore,the lower portion of the partition panel requires more reinforcement ofstrength and rigidity than the upper portion of the partition panel.

According to the position of the portion of the partition panelrequiring reinforcement of strength and rigidity, the reinforcement part200 may have a V shape which is inclined upwards from the center of thelower portion of the panel part 100 to both ends of the panel part 100.

In the same manner as the panel part 100, the reinforcement part 200 isformed of a composite material including reinforced fibers and a resin.Here, the reinforced fibers may mean at least one kind of fibersselected from carbon fibers, glass fibers, aramid fibers and naturalfibers. Further, the resin may be a thermosetting resin, such aspolypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE), or a thermoplastic resin, suchas polyurethane (PU). However, the disclosure is not limited thereto.

When the partition panel for vehicles including the panel part 100 andthe reinforcement part 200 to reinforce the panel part 100 ismanufactured, both the panel part 100 and the reinforcement part 200 aremounted in a mold and then molded together and, thereby, the panel part100 and the reinforcement part 200 may be integrally formed.

Differently from a conventional partition panel for vehicles, in case ofthe partition panel for vehicles in accordance with the presentinvention, both the panel part 100 and the reinforcement part 200 areformed of composite materials and connected integrally to each other andmay thus reduce the weight of a vehicle frame and achieve high strengthand rigidity.

With reference to FIG. 4, the reinforcement part 200 may include a mainbody region 201 connected to the center of the lower portion of thepanel part 100 and a pair of deployment regions 202 extending to beinclined upwards from the main body region 201 to both ends of the panelpart 100, and connection parts disposed between the deployment regions202 and both ends of the main body region 201 are configured such thatthe width of the connection parts is gradually decreased in the downwarddirection and is then increased.

The main body region 201 corresponds to a portion of the reinforcementpart 200, which is connected to the center of the lower portion of thepanel part 100, and the deployment regions 202 correspond to portions ofthe reinforcement part 200, which extend to be inclined from the mainbody region 201 to both ends of the panel part 100.

The main body region 201 and the deployment regions 202 correspond toregions provided to cover a portion of the partition panel for vehicles,requiring reinforcement of strength and rigidity, as exemplarily shownin FIG. 3.

The deployment regions 202 have a tape shape having a designatedthickness and extend from the main body region 201. The connection partsbetween the deployment regions 202 and both ends of the main body region201 are configured such that the width of the connection parts isgradually decreased in the downward direction and is then increased.

Here, the width direction may correspond to the width direction of avehicle frame when the partition panel for vehicles is applied to thevehicle frame.

By forming waist parts having a width which is gradually decreased inthe downward direction and is then increased, the reinforcement part 200may cover the entirety of the portion requiring reinforcement shown inFIG. 3 and the overall weight of the partition panel for vehicles may bereduced due to removal of unnecessary parts.

The panel part 100 and the reinforcement part 200 may be configured suchthat a plurality of reinforced fiber layers having a designatedarrangement direction is stacked to form a multilayer structure and thereinforced fiber arrangement directions of the reinforced fiber layersof the panel part 100 and the reinforced fiber arrangement directions ofthe reinforced fiber layers of the reinforcement part 200 are differentby an angle of 40-50°, as illustrated by blown up portions shown in thedotted circles of FIG. 1.

The panel part 100 and the reinforcement part 200 may be formed ofprepreg in which reinforced fibers are preliminarily impregnated with aresin. Such prepreg may be formed to have a multilayer structure inwhich a plurality of reinforced fiber layers having a designatedarrangement direction is stacked.

The reinforced fiber layer may be formed to have a designatedarrangement direction, i.e., unidirectional (UD), or formed as a wovenfabric. Here, an angle formed by the reinforced fiber arrangementdirections of the reinforced fiber layers of the panel part 100 and thereinforced fiber arrangement directions of the reinforced fiber layersof the reinforcement part 200 may be 40-50°, particularly 45°.

For example, in case of the panel part 100, reinforced fiber layers maybe alternately stacked from the bottom at stacking angles of 0°, 90°, 90and 0° from a virtual line being parallel with the height direction ofthe panel part 100. Here, the height direction of the panel part 100 maycorrespond to the height direction of the vehicle frame to which thepartition panel for vehicles is applied.

Further, in case of the reinforcement part 200, reinforced fiber layersmay be alternately stacked from the bottom at stacking angles of 45°,−45°, 45°, −45°, 45°, −45°, 45° and −45° from the virtual line beingparallel with the height direction of the panel part 100. Moreparticularly, in order to prevent warpage of the partition panel forvehicles in accordance with the present invention, the reinforced fiberlayers may be alternately stacked from the bottom at stacking angles of45°, −45°, 45°, −45°, −45°, 45°, −45° and 45° from the virtual line.This will be described in detail later.

There is a difference of an angle of 45° between the reinforced fiberlayer of the panel part 100 having a stacking angle of 0° and thereinforced fiber layer of the reinforcement part 200 having a stackingangle of 45° or −45° and there is a difference of an angle of 45°between the reinforced fiber layer of the panel part 100 having astacking angle of 90° and the reinforced fiber layer of thereinforcement part 200 having a stacking angle of 45° or −45°.Therefore, the reinforced fiber arrangement directions of the reinforcedfiber layers of the panel part 100 and the reinforced fiber arrangementdirections of the reinforced fiber layers of the reinforcement part 200have a difference of an angle of 40-50°.

As described above, the reinforced fiber layers of the panel part 100and the reinforced fiber layers of the reinforcement part 200 aredisposed with a difference of an angle of 40-50° so as to maximallyintersect each other, and thus the partition panel for vehicles may copewith impact in various directions and have improved strength andrigidity.

If such a difference is less than 40° or exceeds 50°, intersectingeffects are reduced and improvement in strength and rigidity of thepartition panel for vehicles is insignificant. Therefore, the panel part100 and the reinforcement part 200 are controlled such that thereinforced fiber arrangement directions of the reinforced fiber layersof the panel part 100 and the reinforced fiber arrangement directions ofthe reinforced fiber layers of the reinforcement part 200 have adifference of an angle of 40-50°.

Particularly, the reinforcement part 200 may include a firstreinforcement tape 210 connected to a portion of the panel part 100inclined upwards from the center of the lower portion of the panel part100 to one end of the panel part 100, and a second reinforcement tape220 overlapping the first reinforcement tape 210 at the center of thelower portion of the panel part 100 and connected to a portion of thepanel part 100 inclined upwards from the center of the lower portion ofthe panel part 100 to the other end of the panel part 100.

The first reinforcement tape 210 corresponds to a portion connected tothe portion of the panel part 100 inclined upwards from the center ofthe lower portion of the panel part 100 to one end of the panel part100, and the second reinforcement tape corresponds to a portionconnected to the portion of the panel part 100 inclined upwards from thecenter of the lower portion of the panel part 100 to the other end ofthe panel part 100.

The first reinforcement tape 210 and the second reinforcement tape 220partially contact each other so as to overlap each other at the centerof the lower portion of the panel part 100. The upper surface of thefirst reinforcement tape 210 may contact the lower surface of the secondreinforcement tape 220, or the lower surface of the first reinforcementtape 210 may contact the upper surface of the second reinforcement tape220.

Here, such a contact region may be the main body region 201, and regionsextending from the main body region 201 to both ends of the panel part100 may be the deployment regions 202. Further, the contact region mayhave parts, the width of which is gradually decreased in the downwarddirection and is then increased.

If the first reinforcement tape 210 and the second reinforcement tape220 are formed so as to intersect each other, portions extending to beinclined upwards from the contact region between the first and secondreinforcement tapes 210 and 220 to both ends of the panel part 100 maybe the deployment regions 202, and the contact region and portionsextending downwards from the contact region to both ends of the panelpart 100 may correspond to the main body region 201.

Particularly, the second reinforcement tape 220 and the firstreinforcement tape 210 may have the same shape, an adhesive surface ofthe first reinforcement tape 210 contacting the panel part 100 and anadhesive surface of the second reinforcement tape 220 contacting thepanel part 100 may be opposite.

Since the first reinforcement tape 210 and the second reinforcement tape220 have the same shape, the first reinforcement tape 210 and the secondreinforcement tape 220 having the same shape may be acquired from onerectangular prepreg sheet, as exemplarily shown in FIG. 5. Therefore,space waste of the prepreg sheet is minimized and thus yield may beimproved and productivity may be increased.

That is, by forming the first reinforcement tape 210 and the secondreinforcement tape 220 having the same shape, the manufacturing processof the first reinforcement tape 210 and the second reinforcement tape220 may be shortened.

When the first reinforcement tape 210 and the second reinforcement tape220 are connected to the panel part 100, the first reinforcement tape210 and the second reinforcement tape 220 may be symmetrical about avirtual line, which is parallel with the height direction of the panelpart 100 and crosses the center of the panel part 100.

That is, when the partition panel for vehicles in accordance with thepresent invention is manufactured, a prepreg structure having the shapeof the first reinforcement tape 210 and the second reinforcement tape220 is primarily mounted on a mold die, another prepreg structure havingthe shape of the first reinforcement tape 210 and the secondreinforcement tape 220, turned upside down, is secondarily mountedthereon, a prepreg structure having the shape of the panel part 100 isfinally mounted thereon, and then these prepreg structures are molded.Thereby, the adhesive surface of the first reinforcement tape 210contacting the panel part 100 and the adhesive surface of the secondreinforcement tape 220 contacting the panel part 100 may be opposite.

Particularly, the first reinforcement tape 210 and the secondreinforcement tape 220 may be configured such that a plurality ofreinforced fiber layers having a designated arrangement direction isstacked to form a multilayer structure. This feature is illustrated, forexample, in FIG. 2, which includes blow up portions of the firstreinforcement tape 210 and the second reinforcement tape 220.

More particularly, the reinforced fiber arrangement direction of thereinforced fiber layer of the first reinforcement tape 210 contactingthe panel part 100 from on a virtual line being parallel with the heightdirection of the panel part 100 may be parallel with or vertical to thereinforced fiber arrangement direction of the reinforced fiber layer ofthe second reinforcement tape 220 contacting the panel part 100 from thevirtual line.

The first reinforcement tape 210 and the second reinforcement tape 220may be formed of prepreg in which reinforced fibers are impregnated witha resin, and such prepreg may be formed to have a multilayer structurein which a plurality of reinforced fiber layers is stacked. Here, thereinforced fiber layer may be formed to have a designated arrangementdirection, i.e., unidirectional (UD).

The adhesive surface of the first reinforcement tape 210 contacting thepanel part 100 and the adhesive surface of the second reinforcement tape220 contacting the panel part 100 may be opposite and thus thereinforced fiber arrangement direction of the reinforced fiber layer ofthe first reinforcement tape 210 having a designated arrangementdirection and contacting the panel part 100 may be parallel with orvertical to the reinforced fiber arrangement direction of the reinforcedfiber layer of the second reinforcement tape 220 having a designatedarrangement direction and contacting the panel part 100.

For example, if first prepreg 20 is formed such that reinforced fiberlayers thereof are alternately stacked from the bottom at angles of 45°,−45°, 45°, −45°, −45°, 45°, −45° and 45° from the virtual line andsecond prepreg 10 having the upside-down shape of the first prepreg 20is formed such that reinforced fiber layers thereof are alternatelystacked from the bottom at angles of 45°, −45°, 45°, −45°, −45°, 45°,−45° and 45° from the virtual line, the reinforced fiber arrangementdirection of the reinforced fiber layer of the first reinforcement tape210 contacting the panel part 100 is 45° and the reinforced fiberarrangement direction of the reinforced fiber layer of the secondreinforcement tape 220 contacting the panel part 100 is 45°. Therefore,the reinforced fiber arrangement direction of the reinforced fiber layerof the first reinforcement tape 210 contacting the panel part 100 isparallel with the reinforced fiber arrangement direction of thereinforced fiber layer of the second reinforcement tape 220 contactingthe panel part 100.

Otherwise, if the first prepreg 20 is formed such that the reinforcedfiber layers thereof are alternately stacked from the bottom at anglesof 45°, −45°, 45°, −45°, 45°, −45°, 45° and −45° from the virtual lineand the second prepreg 10 having the upside-down shape of the firstprepreg 20 is formed such that the reinforced fiber layers thereof arealternately stacked from the bottom at angles of −45°, 45°, −45°, 45°,−45°, 45°, −45° and 45° from the virtual line, the reinforced fiberarrangement direction of the reinforced fiber layer of the firstreinforcement tape 210 contacting the panel part 100 is 45° and thereinforced fiber arrangement direction of the reinforced fiber layer ofthe second reinforcement tape 220 contacting the panel part 100 is −45°.Therefore, the reinforced fiber arrangement direction of the reinforcedfiber layer of the first reinforcement tape 210 contacting the panelpart 100 is vertical to the reinforced fiber arrangement direction ofthe reinforced fiber layer of the second reinforcement tape 220contacting the panel part 100.

A pair of reinforced fiber layers contacting each other and having thesame reinforced fiber arrangement direction serves as a reference pairand is disposed at the central layer of the first reinforcement tape 210or the second reinforcement tape 220, reinforced fiber layers stacked onthe upper and lower surfaces of the reference pair form pairs, and aplurality of pairs of the reinforced fiber layers stacked on the upperand lower surfaces of the reference pair may form a multilayerstructure. This feature is illustrated in FIG. 4, layers being indicatedby the arrows.

Here, the central layer may mean that a pair of reinforced fiber layersfacing each other is stacked at the center of the multilayer structureof the first reinforcement tape 210 or the second reinforcement tape220. As such, a pair of reinforced fiber layers facing each other andlocated at the central layer of the multilayer structure serves as thereference pair. The reinforced fiber layer stacked on the upper surfaceof the reference pair and the reinforced fiber layer stacked on thelower surface of the reference pair form a pair, the reinforced fiberlayer stacked on the upper surface thereof and the reinforced fiberlayer stacked on the lower surface thereof form another pair, and such aconstruction is repeated. Thereby, a plurality of pairs of reinforcedfiber layers may form a multilayer structure.

More particularly, the reinforced fiber arrangement directions ofreinforced fiber layers in odd-numbered pairs stacked on the upper andlower surfaces of the reference pair are equal so as to be vertical tothe reinforced fiber arrangement direction of the reference pair, andthe reinforced fiber arrangement directions of reinforced fiber layersin even-numbered pairs stacked on the upper and lower surfaces of thereference pair are equal so as to be parallel with the reinforced fiberarrangement direction of the reference pair.

The reinforced fiber arrangement directions of reinforced fiber layersin a first pair stacked on the upper and lower surfaces of the referencepair are equal so as to be vertical to the reinforced fiber arrangementdirection of the reference pair, and the reinforced fiber arrangementdirections of reinforced fiber layers in a second pair stacked on thefirst pair are equal so as to be parallel with the reinforced fiberarrangement direction of the reference pair.

Therefore, the reinforced fiber arrangement direction of an odd-numberedpair of reinforced fiber layers may vertical to the reinforced fiberarrangement direction of an even-numbered pair of reinforced fiberlayers.

For example, each of the first reinforcement tape 210 and the secondreinforcement tape 220 may include 8 reinforced fiber layers, which arealternately stacked from the bottom at angles of 45°, −45°, 45°, −45°,−45°, 45°, −45° and 45°. Here, fourth and fifth reinforced fiber layershaving a reinforced fiber arrangement direction of an angle of −45° mayform a reference pair, a pair of third and sixth reinforced fiber layersand a pair of firth and eighth reinforced fiber layers may formodd-numbered pairs, and the reinforced fiber arrangement direction ofthe odd-numbered pairs may be vertical to the reinforced fiberarrangement direction of the reference pair. A pair of second andseventh reinforced fiber layers may form an even-numbered pair, and thereinforced fiber arrangement direction of the even-numbered pair may beparallel with the reinforced fiber arrangement direction of thereference pair.

The first reinforcement tape 210 and the second reinforcement tape 220may be connected so as to intersect each other, the intersectingportions thereof may overlap each other, one end of each of the firstreinforcement tape 210 and the second reinforcement tape 220 about theoverlapping portions may be connected to the upper portion of the panelpart 100, and the other end of each of the first reinforcement tape 210and the second reinforcement tape 220 may be connected to the lowerportion of the panel part 100.

As described above, if the first reinforcement tape 210 and the secondreinforcement tape 220 are formed so as to intersect each other,portions extending to be inclined upwards from the contact regionbetween the first and second reinforcement tapes 210 and 220 to bothends of the panel part 100 may be the deployment regions 202, and thecontact region and portions extending downwards from the contact regionto both ends of the panel part 100 may correspond to the main bodyregion 201.

Composite materials forming panel part 100 and the reinforcement part200 may include carbon fibers and, thus, the panel part 100 may beformed of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP).

Since carbon fibers are used to manufacture both the panel part 100 andthe reinforcement part 200, the partition panel for vehicles inaccordance with the present invention may be formed of CFRP.

Otherwise, composite materials forming the panel part 100 and thereinforcement part 200 may include glass fibers and, thus, the panelpart 100 may be formed of glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP).

Since glass fibers are used to manufacture both the panel part 100 andthe reinforcement part 200, the partition panel for vehicles inaccordance with the present invention may be formed of GFRP.

A composite material forming the panel part 100 may include carbonfibers and, thus, the panel part 100 may be formed of CFRP, and acomposite material forming the reinforcement part 200 may include glassfibers and, thus, the reinforcement part 200 may be formed of GFRP.

Since carbon fibers are used to manufacture the panel part 100 and glassfibers are used to manufacture the reinforcement part 200 and thus thepanel part 100 and the reinforcement part 200 are respectively formed ofCFRP and GFRP, a partition panel for vehicles formed of different kindsof reinforced fibers may be manufactured.

Otherwise, a composite material forming the panel part 100 may includeglass fibers and, thus, the panel part 100 may be formed of GFRP, and acomposite material forming the reinforcement part 200 may include carbonfibers and, thus, the reinforcement part 200 may be formed of CFRP.

Since glass fibers are used to manufacture the panel part 100 and carbonfibers are used to manufacture the reinforcement part 200 and thus thepanel part 100 and the reinforcement part 200 are respectively formed ofGFRP and CFRP, a partition panel for vehicles formed of different kindsof reinforced fibers may be manufactured.

With reference to FIG. 6, a method of manufacturing a partition panelfor vehicles in accordance with the present invention includes mountingfirst prepreg 20, which includes first tape 21 and second tape 22 formedto have a shape corresponding to a molding groove 31 on a lower die 30on which the molding groove 31 inclined upwards from the center of thelower portion of the lower die 30 to both ends of the lower die 30 andmounting second prepreg 10 having a sheet type on the lower die 30 so asto cover the first prepreg 20, and integrally molding the first prepreg20 and the second prepreg 10 by placing an upper die on the lower die30.

In mounting, the first prepreg 20 having the shape of the molding groove31 is mounted on the lower die 30 provided with the molding groove 31.The molding groove 31 is inclined upwards from the center of the lowerportion of the lower die 30 to both ends of the lower die 30. Bymounting the first prepreg 20 having a shape corresponding to themolding groove 31 on the molding groove 31, the first prepreg 20 may notdeviate from the proper position of the lower die 30.

The first prepreg 20 includes reinforced fibers preliminarilyimpregnated with a resin and the reinforced fibers may mean at least onekind of fibers selected from carbon fibers, glass fibers, aramid fibersand natural fibers. Further, the resin may be a thermosetting resin,such as polypropylene (PP) or polyethylene (PE), or a thermoplasticresin, such as polyurethane (PU). However, the disclosure is not limitedthereto.

After mounting of the first prepreg 20 on the lower die 30, the secondprepreg 10 is mounted on the first prepreg 20 so as to cover the firstprepreg 20. The second prepreg 10 is a sheet type and corresponds to thepanel part 100 of the partition panel for vehicles, which divides atrunk and the interior of a vehicle from each other. The first prepreg20 has a shape corresponding to the shape of the molding groove 31 andis connected to the second prepreg 10, thus forming the reinforcementpart 200.

In the same manner as the first prepreg 20, the second prepreg 10includes reinforced fibers preliminarily impregnated with a resin andthe reinforced fibers may mean at least one kind of fibers selected fromcarbon fibers, glass fibers, aramid fibers and natural fibers. Further,the resin may be a thermosetting resin, such as polypropylene (PP) orpolyethylene (PE), or a thermoplastic resin, such as polyurethane (PU).However, the disclosure is not limited thereto.

After mounting of the first prepreg 20 and the second prepreg 10 on thelower die 30, the first prepreg 20 and the second prepreg 10 may beintegrally molded by placing the upper die on the lower die 30. Byintegrally molding the first prepreg 20 and the second prepreg 10, apartition panel for vehicles, formed of the second prepreg 10 formingthe panel part 100 and the first prepreg 20 forming the reinforcementpart 200 and inclined upwards from the center of the lower portion ofthe second prepreg 10 to both ends of the second prepreg 10 andintegrally connected, may be manufactured.

The first prepreg 20 may include a first tape 21 mounted at one portionof the molding groove 31 inclined upwards from the center of the lowerportion of the molding groove 31 to one end of the molding groove 31 anda second tape 22 mounted at the other portion of the molding groove 31inclined upwards from the center of the lower portion of the moldinggroove 31 to the other end of the molding groove 31 and, in mounting ofthe first prepreg 20 and the second prepreg 10 on the lower die 30, thefirst tape 21 is mounted in the molding groove 31 and then the secondtape 22 is mounted in the molding groove 31 so as to intersect the firsttape 21 at the center of the lower portion of the molding groove 31.

The first tape 21 is mounted at the portion of the molding groove 31inclined upwards from the center of the lower portion of the moldinggroove 31 to one end of the molding groove 31 and is thus connected to aportion of the second prepreg 10 inclined upwards from the center of thelower portion of the second prepreg 10 to one end of the second prepreg10, and the second tape 22 is mounted at the portion of the moldinggroove 31 inclined upwards from the center of the lower portion of themolding groove 31 to the other end of the molding groove 31 and is thusconnected to a portion of the second prepreg 10 inclined upwards fromthe center of the lower portion of the second prepreg 10 to the otherend of the second prepreg 10.

However, the first tape 21 and the second tape 22 partially contact eachother so as to overlap each other at the center of the lower portion ofthe first prepreg 20. The upper surface of the first tape 21 may contactthe lower surface of the second tape 22, or the lower surface of thefirst tape 21 may contact the upper surface of the second tape 22.

With reference to FIG. 7, the first tape 21 and the second tape 22 mayhave the same shape, the molding groove 31 may be bilaterallysymmetrical and, in mounting, a designated surface of the second tape 22corresponding to a designated surface of the first tape 21 contactingthe lower die 30 may face the upper mold.

Since the first tape 21 and the second tape 22 have the same shape, thefirst tape 21 and the second tape 22 having the same shape may beacquired from one rectangular prepreg sheet. Therefore, space waste ofthe prepreg sheet is minimized and thus yield may be improved andproductivity may be increased.

The molding groove 31 is formed bilaterally symmetrically so as to beinclined upwards from the center of the lower portion of the lower die30 to both ends of the lower die 30 and, in mounting, a plurality ofprepreg layers having the same shape is primarily mounted at one portionof the molding groove 31 inclined upwards from the center of the lowerportion of the lower die 30 to one end of the lower die 30 and aplurality of prepreg layers having the same shape is then mounted upsidedown at the other portion of the molding groove 31 inclined upwards fromthe center of the lower portion of the lower die 30 to the other end ofthe lower die 30, thereby completing mounting of the first prepreg 20.

Here, a designated surface of the second tape 22 corresponding to adesignated surface of the first tape 21 contacting the lower die 30 mayface the upper mold.

With reference to FIG. 8, the method for manufacturing the partitionpanel for vehicles in accordance with the present invention may furtherinclude ejecting the integrally molded first prepreg 20 and secondprepreg 10 and then trimming unnecessary portions of the first prepreg20 and the second prepreg 10, after molding.

The integrally molded first prepreg 20 and second prepreg 10 are ejectedfrom the molding dies and then unnecessary portions of the first prepreg20 and the second prepreg 10 for the partition panel for vehicles areremoved. Thereby, manufacture of the partition panel for vehicles inaccordance with the present invention may be completed.

As is apparent from the above description, in a partition panel forvehicles in accordance with the present invention, a reinforcement partformed of a composite material is connected integrally to a panel partformed of a composite material, thus effectively reinforcing a positionrequiring strength and rigidity and achieving vehicle weight reduction.

Although the preferred embodiments of the present invention have beendisclosed for illustrative purposes, those skilled in the art willappreciate that various modifications, additions and substitutions arepossible, without departing from the scope and spirit of the inventionas disclosed in the accompanying claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A partition panel for vehicles, the partitionpanel comprising: a panel part formed of a composite material to dividea trunk and the inside of a vehicle from each other, the panel parthaving a first end and a laterally spaced second end; and areinforcement part formed of a composite material, inclined upwards fromthe center of a lower portion of the panel part toward the first andsecond ends of the panel part, the reinforcement part being connectedintegrally to the panel part, wherein the reinforcement part includes: amain body region connected to the center of the lower portion of thepanel part; a first planar deployment region extending from the mainbody region so as to be inclined upwards toward the first end of thepanel part; and a second planar deployment region extending from themain body region so as to be inclined upwards toward the second end ofthe panel part; wherein a first connection part between the firstdeployment region and a first end of the main body region is configuredsuch that the first connection part has a width that gradually decreasesin a downward direction and then increases; and wherein a secondconnection part between the second deployment region and a second end ofthe main body region is configured such that the second connection parthas a width that gradually decreases in a downward direction and thenincreases.
 2. The partition panel according to claim 1, wherein: thepanel part and the reinforcement part are configured such that aplurality of reinforced fiber layers having a designated arrangementdirection is stacked to form a multilayer structure; and the reinforcedfiber arrangement directions of the reinforced fiber layers of the panelpart and the reinforced fiber arrangement directions of the reinforcedfiber layers of the reinforcement part are different by an angle of40-50°.
 3. The partition panel according to claim 1, wherein thereinforcement part includes: a first reinforcement tape-shaped portionconnected to a portion of the panel part inclined upwards from thecenter of the lower portion of the panel part to the first end of thepanel part; and a second reinforcement tape-shaped portion overlappingthe first reinforcement tape-shaped portion at the center of the lowerportion of the panel part and connected to a portion of the panel partinclined upwards from the center of the lower portion of the panel partto the second end of the panel part.
 4. The partition panel according toclaim 3, wherein: the first reinforcement tape-shaped portion and thesecond reinforcement tape-shaped portion have substantially the sameshape; and an adhesive surface of the first reinforcement tape-shapedportion contacting the panel part and an adhesive surface of the secondreinforcement tape-shaped portion contacting the panel part areopposite.
 5. The partition panel according to claim 4, wherein the firstreinforcement tape-shaped portion and the second reinforcementtape-shaped portion are configured such that a plurality of reinforcedfiber layers having a designated arrangement direction is stacked toform a multilayer structure.
 6. The partition panel according to claim5, wherein: a pair of the reinforced fiber layers contacting each otherand having the same reinforced fiber arrangement direction serves as areference pair and is disposed at a central layer of the firstreinforcement tape-shaped portion or the second reinforcementtape-shaped portion; and the reinforced fiber layers stacked on upperand lower surfaces of the reference pair form a plurality of pairs, andthe pairs of the reinforced fiber layers stacked on the upper and lowersurfaces of the reference pair form a multilayer structure.
 7. Thepartition panel according to claim 3, wherein the first reinforcementtape-shaped portion and the second reinforcement tape-shaped portion areconnected so as to intersect each other so that intersecting portions offirst reinforcement tape-shaped portion and the second reinforcementtape-shaped portion overlap each other, one end of each of the firstreinforcement tape-shaped portion and the second reinforcementtape-shaped portion about the intersecting portions are connected to anupper portion of the panel part, and an opposite end of each of thefirst reinforcement tape-shaped portion and the second reinforcementtape-shaped portion are connected to the lower portion of the panelpart.
 8. The partition panel according to claim 1, wherein the compositematerials forming the panel part and the reinforcement part includecarbon fibers and, thus, the panel part is formed of carbon fiberreinforced plastic (CFRP).
 9. The partition panel according to claim 1,wherein the composite materials forming the panel part and thereinforcement part include glass fibers and, thus, the panel part isformed of glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP).
 10. The partition panelaccording to claim 1, wherein: the composite material forming the panelpart includes carbon fibers and, thus, the panel part is formed ofcarbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP); and the composite materialforming the reinforcement part includes glass fibers and, thus, thereinforcement part is formed of glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP).11. The partition panel according to claim 1, wherein: the compositematerial forming the panel part includes glass fibers and, thus, thepanel part is formed of glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP); and thecomposite material forming the reinforcement part includes carbon fibersand, thus, the reinforcement part is formed of carbon fiber reinforcedplastic (CFRP).
 12. A partition panel for vehicles, the partition panelcomprising: a panel part formed of a composite material to divide atrunk and the inside of a vehicle from each other, the panel part havinga first end and a laterally spaced second end; and a reinforcement partformed of a composite material, inclined upwards from the center of alower portion of the panel part toward the first and second ends of thepanel part, the reinforcement part being connected integrally to thepanel part, wherein the reinforcement part includes: a firstreinforcement tape-shaped portion connected to a portion of the panelpart inclined upwards from the center of the lower portion of the panelpart to a first end of the panel part; and a second reinforcementtape-shaped portion overlapping the first reinforcement tape-shapedportion at the center of the lower portion of the panel part andconnected to a portion of the panel part inclined upwards from thecenter of the lower portion of the panel part to a second end of thepanel part.
 13. The partition panel according to claim 12, wherein: thepanel part and the reinforcement part are configured such that aplurality of reinforced fiber layers having a designated arrangementdirection is stacked to form a multilayer structure; and the reinforcedfiber arrangement directions of the reinforced fiber layers of the panelpart and the reinforced fiber arrangement directions of the reinforcedfiber layers of the reinforcement part are different by an angle of40-50°.
 14. The partition panel according to claim 12, wherein: thefirst reinforcement tape-shaped portion and the second reinforcementtape-shaped portion have substantially the same shape; and an adhesivesurface of the first reinforcement tape-shaped portion contacting thepanel part and an adhesive surface of the second reinforcementtape-shaped portion contacting the panel part are opposite.
 15. Thepartition panel according to claim 14, wherein the first reinforcementtape-shaped portion and the second reinforcement tape-shaped portion areconfigured such that a plurality of reinforced fiber layers having adesignated arrangement direction is stacked to form a multilayerstructure.
 16. The partition panel according to claim 12, wherein thefirst reinforcement tape-shaped portion and the second reinforcementtape-shaped portion are connected so as to intersect each other so thatintersecting portions of first reinforcement tape-shaped portion and thesecond reinforcement tape-shaped portion overlap each other, one end ofeach of the first reinforcement tape-shaped portion and the secondreinforcement tape-shaped portion about the intersecting portions areconnected to an upper portion of the panel part, and an opposite end ofeach of the first reinforcement tape-shaped portion and the secondreinforcement tape-shaped portion are connected to the lower portion ofthe panel part.
 17. The partition panel according to claim 12, whereinthe composite materials forming the panel part and the reinforcementpart include carbon fibers and, thus, the panel part is formed of carbonfiber reinforced plastic (CFRP).
 18. The partition panel according toclaim 12, wherein the composite materials forming the panel part and thereinforcement part include glass fibers and, thus, the panel part isformed of glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP).
 19. The partition panelaccording to claim 12, wherein: the composite material forming the panelpart includes carbon fibers and, thus, the panel part is formed ofcarbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP); and the composite materialforming the reinforcement part includes glass fibers and, thus, thereinforcement part is formed of glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP).20. The partition panel according to claim 12, wherein: the compositematerial forming the panel part includes glass fibers and, thus, thepanel part is formed of glass fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP); and thecomposite material forming the reinforcement part includes carbon fibersand, thus, the reinforcement part is formed of carbon fiber reinforcedplastic (CFRP).